Nine historic communities across Scotland will benefit from more than Â£5 million, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani announced today (Friday, 6 February). Announcing the latest round of Historic Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS), the Minister said: “These grants provide vital support for councils who want to breathe new life into areas that have not had the means to do so in recent years.

Historic Scotland’s flagship attraction Edinburgh Castle is celebrating after welcoming its one millionth visitor through the door for the current financial year. Edinburgh Castle attracts 1.2 million visitors per year and despite the tough financial times; the castle continues to attract visitors from around the world.

A Scottish queen has been sharing her experiences of life as a prisoner with women inmates of today. The initiative is part of an adult learning project being jointly organised by Historic Scotland, Stirling Council, Edinburgh Lothian and Borders Criminal Justice Authority, Carnegie College and the prison service.

Historic Scotland is due to begin an excavation at Broughty Castle Green in Broughty Ferry this week. The agency has commissioned archaeological excavations to investigate the cause of a hole which has opened up on the castle green.